Akin skipped votes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to return to the campaign trail. The congressman is fighting to stay competitive in his bid against Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) -- and raise the money he needs to do so -- after his controversial comments on "legitimate" rape led Crossroads and the National Republican Senatorial Committee to pull their planned advertising. His tweets over the past few days touted a Tuesday evening dinner and rally, Wednesday morning rally, a Wednesday night meeting, and a Thursday night dinner.

A Missouri Watchdog examination in August found that Akin missed 89 of 105 House votes over the summer as the state's August primary approached. He could still drop out of the race, with a court's help, if he makes an announcement by September 25, but he's giving no indication he'll do so.

Meanwhile, Hirono skipped votes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The congresswoman looks relatively well positioned in her contest with GOP nominee Linda Lingle in Democratic-leaning Hawaii -- but it's a long flight between the Mainland and the islands, and Hirono stayed out west until she showed up in Washington yesterday.

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